A numerical study of the three-dimensional structure of the Taylor-Couette flow in eccentric configuration with superimposed cross flow

The eccentric small gap Taylor-Couette system with rotating inner cylinder and fixed outer cylinder is investigated numerically. The main flow fields were examined and the transition region from the laminar Couette-flow to the Taylor-vortex-flow in different eccentric arrangements of the cylinders. The effect of the eccentricity on flow patterns was studied for different values of the eccentricity between 0 and 0.75 in relation to the mean gap. This flow was further disturbed by the superimposed cross flow entering into the gap through the feed hole with a cross flow rate of 0.1 of the circumferential flow rate. Hence, more complex three dimensional flow structures evolved in the cylinders' gap, especially in the vicinity of the feed hole.